Security across Asian continent ‘integrated’

TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (MNA) – Iran’s Hassan Rouhani said Iran sees security of Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and China Sea integrated. President Rouhani received on Tuesday Chinese National Defense Minister Lieutenant Chang Wanquan, who is also the Chief of the Staff in Chinese Army. Gen. Wanquan heads a military and defense delegation to Tehran. Rouhani told the meeting that Iran and China would continue ties based on mutual respect and interests; “Iran hails improvement of ties with China, a great civilization as well as power in the continent; we believe in terms of security, there is little difference between security of the Persian Gulf and those of the Indian Ocean and China Sea,” he added. “All should work to improve security across the continent, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran has lent its shoulders; exchanges of diplomats and frequenting both capitals will strengthen defense cooperation, and Iran welcomes implementation of all agreements with China,” he briefly said. Gen. Wanquan for his part believed that Iran was China’s first and foremost regional ally and a prominent military power, with which China would deepen military ties; “we believe working with Iran in the framework of ‘A Belt, A Road,’ will secure both sides’ strategic interests; China has had close ties with Iran, and now political and economic relations are in an apex, with no less important cultural relations which is deeply rooted in history,” he told the meeting. “Iran is a great power in the Middle East and an important Islamic country, and China sees working with Iran as crucial in tackling terrorism.”